Best iteration of the Temptations live?

[Ron]

I was watching some old tapes of the Temptations today, and as much as I love David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, the early 80's touring band was better than the classic early 60's band.  

Why did bands like this stop recording?  Could they just not get record contracts back then?  Or did the Temptations record in the early 80's and I've just never heard it?  If they were still recording, how come nobody played it on the radio?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfsSuHl1_2c

If you watch live performances from just a few years after this tape, it's not even half this good.  

Also, dare I say, in my mind, the Temptations have always been second, only to the Beach Boys, in harmony skill.  Vocals @ 4:00 rival those of the boys. 

[Jay]

You think the 80's lineup was better? I'm going to have to respectfully disagree.  As great as Ali Ollie Woodson, Ron Tyson and Richard Street were, there will never be anything close to the classic lineup.

The Temptations just released another cd last year. They are I think the only Motown group that never stopped recording, although they aren't with Motown now. Even The Four Tops stopped releasing new original material. I think their last album to date was a Christmas album in 1996.

[Ron]

Yeah the band circa the clip I posted in my opinion was the best (at least live).  I'm not familiar with any of their 80's work, was it any good?  Outside the Rod Stewart song I haven't heard a single track from the 80's on.  

I'm talking about the group just before Ali was in it, when they still had Dennis Edwards. 

Melvin
Otis
Dennis Edwards
Ron Tyson
Richard Street

greatest version of the group ever (IMHO).

[Jay]

I'm a HUGE Temptations fan. They have recorded fairly steadily since 1961. Their first full length album came out in 1964, and their latest one came out last year. I'm a fan of pretty much every era of their career. This website is a good start to learn about them. Just type in their name in the search. It gives a pretty detailed biography, and there is a pretty good overview of their discography. http://www.allmusic.com/